NAIROBI, Kenya, March 10 –Gor Mahia midfielder Khalid Aucho and centre half Dirkir Glay have recovered from knocks as head coach Frank Nuttall hopes to have a full house for Sunday’s CAF Champions League tie against Congo Brazzaville’s AC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium.
The two key players sustained hamstring strains in their barren draw friendly against fellow Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Ulinzi Stars with Ugandan Aucho forced out in the first half.
Nuttall who led his charges to a second successive draw in their Tuesday build up match, this time round settling for a 1-1 stalemate against Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Posta Rangers, said the team is in high spirits ahead of the first round home leg.
“Preparations are going on well since we are overcoming few knocks and everybody is focused. Aucho and Glay trained today (Tuesday) so we will see how they will react over the next 24 hours.
“Their injuries were not major so hopefully we will have full squad to select from,” Nuttall who relocated the team’s training from City Stadium to Nyayo declared.
K’Ogalo new signing Zachariah Taofiq put the KPL champions ahead in the second half before Rangers who are under the tutelage of former Thika United head coach; John Kamau, equalised through Patrick Karuri.
“It was a useful match for players who were unable to take part in last weekend’s match and those who will play on Sunday. Jerim Onyango is doing fine and he had a chance to play 90minutes today after being sidelines for long,” the coach who fielded a changed side from the one against Ulinzi added.
Gor who eliminated Madagascar’s CNaPS on away goals rule, following a 3-3 aggregate draw to qualify for the first round will be seeking to reach the second stage for the first time over three decades.
“I dwell on present and future but not on history. We have to take the game on and work very hard because it’s going to be a tough challenge but overall we have to try and win the tie since we have the home advantage.”
AC Leopards, the 2012 CAF Confederations Cup winners are expected in the country by Friday on a charted flight.
